Getting Married in Italy – Australian Citizens

Australian government representatives cannot perform marriage ceremonies and you cannot get married at an Australian Embassy or Consulate

BEFORE ARRIVING IN ITALY

Before leaving Australia, we strongly recommend that you obtain an Atto Notorio (sworn declaration) from the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the state in which you reside.

Make sure you travel with your Australian passport. If you were married before, bring evidence of the termination of your previous marriage.

Please note that a divorced woman who wants to marry again within 300 days of the date of her divorce must contact the local Italian authorities and seek special permission from an Italian magistrate. Otherwise, she must allow the required period of 300 days to elapse. If you are widowed, you must bring the death certificate of your previous spouse. Certificates can be obtained from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Please note that all certificates including divorce certificates or death certificates certifying termination of your previous marriage MUST be ORIGINALS. Photocopies are not accepted.

ONCE IN ITALY

In addition to the Atto Notorio, an Australian citizen intending to get married in Italy will need to make a Sworn Declaration (Nulla Osta). This Sworn Declaration must be signed, whether you are single, divorced or widowed, in the presence of an Australian Consular officer at the Australian Embassy in Rome, Via Antonio Bosio 5, Tel:06/85272299, (or Australian Consulate-General in Milan: via Borgogna 2 Tel: +390277704217 open Monday to Thursday from 9.00 to 17.00 and Friday from 9.00 to 16.00).

A Nulla Osta literally states that “there are no impediments,” or that one is free to marry. The Nulla Osta (Sworn Declaration) is valid for six months and costs the Euro equivalent of A$50.00 per Australian citizen. Please note that payments can only be made in cash as credit card services are not available at the Australian Embassy.

The Nulla Osta must then be legalised by the Uffico Legalizzazioni of the Prefettura. (this can be handled by your wedding planner)

Before going to the Prefettura, you will need to purchase a revenue stamp (marca da bollo) which costs Euro 14,62 at a tobacconist (tabaccaio) to take with you. If you plan to marry at a Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican, you do not need this legalisation.

CIVIL CEREMONY

The first step is to bring the Atto Notorio and Nulla Osta to the Ufficio Matrimoni, or Marriage Office, in the Italian city where you plan to marry.

If you do not speak Italian, you should come with an interpreter to meet the officers for a sworn statement. This usually occurs from 1 week to 2 days before the wedding (some town halls accept a same day declaration, but they are very few). Your wedding planner will be able to make these appointments with you and schedule them for you guiding through deciding the best solutions for you. You will need to pay a fee for the rental of the marriage hall, which can vary considerably depending on where you are getting married.

· If one or more of the parties is Italian or is an Australian with Italian residency, then Banns (pubblicazione di matrimonio) must be posted for at least two weeks before the date of the marriage. In this case the procedure will vary, and a special free tlephone consultation can be provided to you by our wedding planners in Italy.

· The sworn statement is followed by the Civil Ceremony. At the ceremony, apply for a marriage certificate (certificato di matrimonio), which you will receive immediately after the ceremony. You will need an Apostille affixed to the Italian Marriage certificate by the Italian authorities at the Prefettura, so that it may be used for all legal purposes in Australia. You should keep in mind that during the peak marriage season (May to September), it may be difficult to get an appointment both for the marriage celebrant and to apply for the Apostille. Your wedding Planners in Italy will take care of this legal procedure immediately after the wedding, so you will not have to waste time and immediately start your honeymoon in Italy!

For further information, you can contact us for a non binding free telephonic consultation

or contact the Australian Embassy in Rome on 06/85272299 (email: [email protected]) or the Australian Consulate-General in Milan on+39 02/77704217.

The above information is provided by the Consular Section of the Australian Embassy in Rome for the convenience of enquirers, but neither the Australian Government nor the Embassy nor Efffetti can take any responsibility whatsoever in regard to the consequences of using the above information.